The pledge supports IWM’s £33.5m project to create new second world war galleries, Holocaust galleries and a learning suite.

The galleries will enable IWM to transform the way it presents the second world war and the Holocaust, and help visitors understand the complex narrative of the Holocaust within the context of the war, focusing on individual personal stories from the IWM’s collections.

Philippa Charles, the director of the Garfield Weston Foundation said : “IWM plays an important role in helping people understand the causes and consequences of human conflict – the impact of the second world war is important for us all to appreciate and the trustees of the Garfield Weston Foundation hope that this project engages people with this pivotal time in the 20th century.”

Diane Lees, IWM's director general, said: “We’re delighted to announce this generous pledge from the Garfield Weston Foundation which will help us continue the transformation of IWM London.

"This pledge will enable IWM to reinterpret its second world war and Holocaust galleries, sharing personal recollections of this devastating conflict and illustrating how war has shaped the society we live in today.”

To date, IWM has raised 41% of the funding required for the project. The remaining funds are being sought from a variety of sources including trusts, foundations and individuals.